Candle holders



United States Patent CANDLE HGLDERS Michael Cozzoli, Hagerstown, Md. Application March 3, 1953, Serial No. 340,127

3 Claims. (Cl. 67--27) This invention relates to a candle holder and more particularly to candle holders having a hollow casing in which a candle is supported and is fed or mover upwardly mechanically and is kept at the upper end of the hollow casing as the candle is consumed.

Difiiculty has been had in the mechanical candle holders and feeders of the prior art from the parts thereof being firmly joined together by the melted wax or the drippings of the candle as the candle reaches the end of its burning and the last melted parts of the candle or the drippings become cool and solid. For example: In the arrangements disclosed in the U. S. patent to McClary, No. 2,480,333, the drippings and melted wax of the candle, as the candle reaches the end of its burning, flow down between the inturned top and the sides of the tubular plug and the walls of the tube. When this occurs and when the melted wax cools and becomes solid, it is so difficult to move the parts of the assembly relative to each other, to insert a new candle into the holder, that the candle holder itself is not practical. Furthermore,

fire hazards have been experienced in the use of these prior are constructions when the lower end of the candle has been forced upward by the fiat surface of the plunger and the whole lower end of the candle has melted and has become a liquid pool of wax and the liquid wax and the burning wick end are forced out at the top of the casing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a mechanical candle holder and feeder that so confines the melted or liquid wax, as the candle burns, that the melted wax therefrom cannot come in contact with such parts of the holder, either during the normal burning of the candle or at the end of the burning, so as to impair or render difficult the disassembly of the holder and the replacement of fresh candles in the holder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder having fewer parts and of simpler construction than heretofore known.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder that includes as one of its parts a cartridge adapted to hold candles of one diameter that may be used in ornamental casings of different diameters.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder that is adapted for the quick and easy replacing of fresh candles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder that reduces fire hazards.

v Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder that includes a metal chamber to hold the melted wax and flaming wick as the wax of the candle becomes completely consumed by burning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle 2,730,884 Patented Jan. 17, 1956 holder that is adapted to use short or otherwise partially used candles Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder that is adapted to use candles with wicks projecting from each of the ends thereof.

Another object of the invention is to; provide a candle holder that is adapted to be firmly fixed into various sizes of bases.

Another object of the invention is to provide a candle holder that permits of easy examination and determination as to the further burning time of a partially burned candle. 7

Other objects will be obvious from the description of the invention given herein and from the drawing made a part thereof in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section view of one embodiment of the invention showing the upper portion of the candle holder with a candle in place in its plunger in a cartridge, the candle being only partially burned;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, but showing the candle as it is near the end of its burning;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the shell of a cartridge, showing a slot in the Walls thereof through which to observe the length of the unconsumed candle therein and showing portions of the walls bent outward to form resilient friction retaining members;

Figure 4 is a partial View taken at right angles to that of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a candle showing a wick protruding from each of the ends thereof; 7

Figure 6 is a vertical cross section view of another embodiment of the invention showing a modified form of the plunger for supporting the candle, a modified form of assembling of the cartridge and an arrangement for fastening the lower end of the casing of the holder into bases of various sizes;

Figure 7 is a vertical cross section view of a standard size cartridge shell modified to fit into a large casing;

Figure 8 is a cross section view taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1; and V Figure 9 is a cross section view taken on line 9-9 of Figure 3.

Referring particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 9, the cartridge of the candle holder shown generally at 10, consists of a tubular member or shell 12 with a flange at one end extending inwardly as at 14 to form the upper end or upper face of the holder, against which flange the candle 16 bears and in the center of which flange is the hole 18 through which one end of the wick 20 of candle 16 extends and burns. The flange also extends outwardly as at 2:2 to form a seat for the cartridge 10 to rest on the top of the cylindrical outer or ornamental casing 24 of the holder. The lower end of shell 12 has bayonetjoint or fitting holes 26 (see Figure 3) that cooperate with pins 28 on plug 30 to detachably fasten the plug 30 to shell 12.

The plug 30 consists of abase portion 32 and upwardly extending walls 34 that form a cup in which is positioned the lower end of spring 36. A handle 38 is provided to manipulate the plug 30 in fastening it to shell 12.

Plunger 46 is the candle support and consists of a central portion 42 with upward extending walls 44 that form an open chamber in which candle 16 rests and is held. The upper ends of walls 44 are cut at an angle to the vertical to form a sharp circular edge for engage rnent with the under side of flange 14, when the candle has burned nearly to its end andthe plunger 40 has been raised correspondingly (see Figure 2). Vertical walls 46 extend downward from central portion 42 of plunger 40 to form a cup for holding the upper end of spring 36. A depression or chamber 48 is provided in the central portion 42, which chamber 48 is in communication with the chamber formed by walls 44. The other or lower end of wick 20, protruding from the lower face of candle 16, is held by and in the depression 48 after all of the wax of the candle '16 has been melted but not all of which has been consumed. This remaining melted waxis held within the walls 44 and chamber 48 and cannot be forced out of the candle holder because the upper edge of walls 44 are in contact with flange 14. Likewise, the flaming wick cannot be dropped out or forced out of the top of the holder as it is supported and held by the walls of chamber 48. I

In operation: With no candle in the cartridge 10, the

cartridge is liftedup and out of the casing 24 and is disassembled by moving the plug 30 by its handle 38 to disconnect the bayonet-joint pins 28 from the walls of the holes 26. The plug 30, spring 36 and plunger 40 are then removed from the cartridge and a fresh candle 16 is positioned in the upper chamber of plunger 49. The cartridge is thereupon reassembled, as shown in Figure 1, and placed in the upper end of casing 24. The candle is then ready for lighting. As the candle burns, the upper face of the candle assumes a curved area, such as at 78, Figure 1. This shape of the upper area of the candle is assumed due to the heat of the candle flame, as it strikes the outer-upper rim of the candle, is partially conducted away from the top area of the candle by the flanges 14 and 22 and shell 12. r

When the candle has burned down to near its end, the walls 44 of plunger 40 have risen and come into contact with flange 14 thereby forming a dam or a seal. This seal is formed before the stub end of the candle becomes melted and prevents the melted wax at the upper surface of the candle stub from flowing over and down and between plunger 40 and shell 12. In these relative positions of the parts, the remainder or stub end of the candle 16 continues to be progressively melted'by the ,heat of the flame of Wick until all of the candle has become melted and consumed As the last part of the wax is being consumed, the lower end of wick 20 is fully supported in wick retaining chamber 48 and is thereby prevented from falling out of plunger 40. The melted wax and flaming wick cannot be forced out through the hole 18 as side walls 44 of plunger 40 form an open chamber, the upper edge of which chamber is in contact with the lower side of flange 14.

Rims been found in practice that the cartridge of the candle holders of my invention remains in the top of the casing 24 and is satisfactorily kept in that position under normal use under the force of gravity. However, when the candle holders of my invention are to be applied to candle stick casings and sockets that may be moved about, the cartridge 10 may be additionally constrained against movement out of or relative to casing 24 by cutting slits in the casing 12 (shown at 72, Figure 4) and bending outwardly the portions 74 of the walls 12, as shown in Figure 3, to form friction spring surfaces to engage the inner walls of casing 24.

As shown in Figure 3, a slot 76 may be cut in the walls 12 of cartridge 10 to view the position of the lower end of candle 16-relative to the upper end of cartridge 10, thus indicating the approximate further time that the candle will burn. The edges of the slot 76 in the shell 12 may I be calibrated in additional hours of candle burning that may be. expected.

The arrangement of parts shown in Figure 6 is similar to that in Figures 1 and 2, except that a depending lip or drip ring 50 is provided on the under side of the inwardly extending flange 14. Lip 50 extends downward a distance slightly less than the height of a cut away portion 52 of walls 44 of plunger 40, such that the lower edge of lip 50 Ed is shown as being detachably fastened to shell 12 by screw threads as at 54.

The casing 24 in Figure 6, shown as double tapered, fits snugly over the vertical walls of a base, shown generally at 56. Base 56 consists of a hollow cylindrical portion 58 for snug contact with the lower end of casing 24, in the axis of which portion 58 is a threaded metal insert that engages bolt 62. Bolt 62 extends downward through elastic discs 64 and washers 66 and terminates in head 68 that engages the lower side of the lowest of washers 66.

When portion 58 is rotated relative to screw 62, the

discs 64 are squeezed out to contact firmly the inner walls of socket 7%, which may be the base of a conventional candle stick holder or the candle stick holder of a candelabrum.

It is apparent thatthe base 56 may be used independently of discs 64, washers 66 and bolt 62, that is, base 56 may be placed by itself on any flat surface.

To apply the invention economically to outer casings of various diameters, the outward extending flange 22 is increased, as shown in Figure 7, and a depending lip 23 is formed on the underside of flange 22 to contact the Y outer casing 24. With this construction, the plug 30, the plunger 46, the spring 36 and the candle 16 may all be made to the same dimensions and be used in any sized casing.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments illustrated and described herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. A candle support and feeder comprisingza casing and a cartridge supported thereby, the said cartridge consisting of a tubular shell having at its upper end an inwardly extending flange adapted to engage the upper rim of said candle and having an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said casing, the said shell having sections thereof bent outward and in sliding resilient contact with said casing, a plug engaging the lower end of said shell, a plunger slidable in said shell and adapted to support said candle, and resilient means engaging said plug and said plunger.

2. A candle support and feeder comprising: a casing and a cartridge supported thereby, the said cartridge consisting of .a tubular shell having at its upper end an in wardly extending flange adapted to engage the upper rim of said candle and having an outwardly extending flange adapted to engage said casing, the under side of said inwardly extending flange having a downwardly depending lip thereon, a closure section engaging the lower end of. said shell, a resilient member engaging said plug, a plunger slidable in said shell and having downwardly extending walls adapted to engage said resilient member and upwardly extending walls adapted to support said candle, the upper ends of said upwardly extending walls of said plunger being thinned to a distance from said ends substantially equal to but less than the length of said depending lip and being thinned to a diameter substantially equal to but less than the outer diameter of said depending lip, whereby said thinned walls and said lip and the inwardly extending flange form a melted-wax-tight barrier. t

3. In combination: a vertical tube having at its upper end an inwardly projecting flange, a candle having an axial wick extending out each of the ends thereof, a support for said candle slidable in said tube, the said support having upwardly vertically extending walls terminating in a thinned wall portion having a circular upper edge and havflange, and a vertically depending lip so positioned on said 8 flange and as to said thinned wall portion as to be juxtaposed thereto when said support is in contact with said flange, whereby melted portions of said candle are prevented from flowing to and over said circular edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Howard Oct. 17, 1876 Baurner Mar. 5, 1895 Wild Nov. 24, 1896 Hauser Nov. 11, 1913 McClory Aug. 30, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain of 1911 Italy Aug. 11, 1938 

